Emissions control system for a gas turbine engine

Abstract

An emissions control system ( 10 ) for a gas turbine engine ( 12 ) for reducing CO emissions at partial load of the gas turbine engine ( 12 ) is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the emissions control system ( 10 ) may be formed from one or more compressed air exhausts ( 14 ) for exhausting compressed air into a hot gas pathway contained within a channel ( 18 ) formed by a transition ( 20 ) extending from a combustor ( 22 ) to a turbine assembly ( 24 ). In at least one embodiment, a plurality of seals ( 26 ) may extend circumferentially around the transition ( 20 ) providing a seal ( 26 ) between the transition ( 20 ) and a component of a downstream turbine assembly ( 24 ). One or more compressed air exhausts ( 14 ) may be positioned between adjacent seals ( 26 ). The compressed air exhausts ( 14 ) may be, but are not limited to being, channels ( 30 ), orifices ( 34 ) and metered spaces ( 32 ) having various shapes and configurations.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An emissions control system ( 10 ) for a gas turbine engine ( 12 ), characterized in that:
 at least one transition ( 20 ) forming a channel ( 18 ) extending from a combustor ( 22 ) to a turbine assembly ( 24 );   at least one seal ( 26 ) coupling the at least one transition ( 20 ) to a component of the turbine assembly ( 24 ); and   wherein the at least one seal ( 26 ) includes at least one compressed air exhaust ( 14 ) for exhausting compressed air into a hot gas pathway contained within the channel ( 18 ) formed by the at least one transition ( 20 ).   
     
     
         2 . The emissions control system ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one compressed air exhaust ( 14 ) is formed from at least one orifice ( 34 ) in a body ( 36 ) of the at least one seal ( 26 ). 
     
     
         3 . The emissions control system ( 10 ) of  claim 2 , characterized in that the at least one orifice ( 34 ) in the body ( 36 ) of the at least one seal ( 26 ) is formed from a plurality of orifices ( 34 ). 
     
     
         4 . The emissions control system ( 10 ) of  claim 2 , characterized in that the plurality of orifices ( 34 ) are spaced equidistant from each other. 
     
     
         5 . The emissions control system ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one seal ( 26 ) comprises a plurality of seals ( 26 ) extending circumferentially around the at least one transition ( 20 ) and wherein the at least one compressed air exhaust ( 14 ) is positioned between adjacent seals ( 26 ). 
     
     
         6 . The emissions control system ( 10 ) of  claim 5 , characterized in that at least one compressed air exhaust ( 14 ) is positioned between each of the plurality of seals ( 26 ). 
     
     
         7 . The emissions control system ( 10 ) of  claim 5 , characterized in that the at least one compressed air exhaust ( 14 ) is formed from at least one orifice ( 34 ) in a body ( 36 ) of each of the plurality of seals ( 26 ). 
     
     
         8 . The emissions control system ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , characterized in that the at least one orifice ( 34 ) in the body ( 36 ) of each seal ( 26 ) is formed from a plurality of orifices ( 34 ). 
     
     
         9 . The emissions control system ( 10 ) of  claim 7 , characterized in that the plurality of orifices ( 34 ) are spaced equidistant from each other. 
     
     
         10 . The emissions control system ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one compressed air exhaust ( 14 ) has at least one inlet in fluid communication with a compressed air source ( 40 ). 
     
     
         11 . The emissions control system ( 10 ) of  claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one compressed air exhaust ( 14 ) has at least one inlet ( 38 ) in fluid communication with at least one compressed air chamber ( 42 ) formed by at least one casing ( 44 ) forming a compressed air source ( 40 ) for the combustor ( 22 ) and wherein the at least one casing ( 44 ) forming compressed air source ( 40 ) surrounds the combustor ( 22 ).